That pretty much illustrates the fundamental difference between the Emperor and the nationalists:

Emperor Akihito is mindful of the atrocities committed by Japan during WWII - and the devastating consequences for Japan. In order to prevent it from happening again.

The PM, Abe, is keen for Japan not ending up being bombed to rubble once more. There were some minor incidents in China in particular... but the most tragic thing was that Japan was bombed.

- Considering that the current legislation prevents Japan from taking pro-active measures against North Korea, even in the face of a clear threat, the PM does have a point in dealing with the pacifist Constitution. But offering apologies for WWII? Nah.

Since Emperor Akihito ascended the Imperial Throne in 1989, every year, he has given an address at the national ceremony to honor the war dead. He gave the same speech every year between 2001 and 2014, but in his address on Aug. 15, 2015, the 70th anniversary of Japan's defeat, he spoke about "feelings of deep remorse over the last war" for the first time. The expression that "our country today enjoys peace and prosperity, thanks to the ceaseless efforts made by the people of Japan towards recovery from the devastation of the war and towards development, always backed by their earnest desire for the continuation of peace" was also included in that speech. Much of the address given by the Emperor this year overlapped with the speeches he gave up until 2014, but he still employed the phrase "feelings of deep remorse" that was introduced into his address last year.

On August 20th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko departed for their retreat to Gunma and Nagano Prefectures and will return on the 30th. However, they will visit the Shinshu University Faculty of Textile Science in Ueda, Nagano in the afternoon of the 20th and the Kasaharakogyo Tsuneda Museum Silk Mill on August 23rd.

On August 23rd, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited the Kasaharakogyo Tsuneda Museum, "Tsuneda Museum Silk Mill” in Ueda, Nagano Prefecture. The silk spinning factory was founded in 1900 and has been designated an important cultural property. The Imperial couple toured the 5-story wooden warehouse dating back to 1905. The Empress has deep knowledge of sericulture, which is inherited history from Empresses since the Meiji era. The couple’s retreat will continue at Kusatsu, Gunma Prefecture from August 27-30th.

On August 27th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko enjoyed the 37th Kusatsu International Summer Music Academy & Festival in Gunma Prefecture. Before the concert, Empress Michiko took a piano lesson workshop with cellist Wolfgang Boettcher for 1 hour and 20 minutes, playing pieces such as Schubert’s "Serenade."

Typhoon No. 10 has caused major damage and deaths in Hokkaido and Iwate Prefectures. Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko conveyed their sympathies to the prefectures' governors through the court chamberlain on August 31st. 11 people have been killed, including 9 at an elderly facility. A man in a vehicle in Taiki, Hokkaido went missing after being swept away.
Source: AsahiFloods kill 9 at Iwate elderly facility - The Japan News

The IHA announced the Imperial couple will travel to Iwate Prefecture September 28 to October 2 to attend the National Sports Festival and inspect the reconstruction situation from the Great East Japan Earthquake in Otsuchi and Yamada.
Source: Asahi, Mainichi

During the meeting with Deputy Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman, Emperor Akihito thanked Saudi Arabia's support after the Great East Japan Earthquake. They also discussed the Emperor's memories of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation where he was seated next to King Fahd.

On 2nd September, HM Emperor Akihito and HM Empress Michiko attended the reception to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of The Illuminating Engineering Institute of Japan took place in Tokyo.

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko attended the 36th "National Development of an Abundantly Productive Sea convention" in Sakata. Afterward, they took a special train with the chrysanthemum emblem to Nezugaseki Port where the Emperor released flounder and black sea bream; the Empress released fry of flatfish and tiger puffer into the harbor.

The Imperial couple visited Matsugaoka reclamation field on September 12th. During the Meiji Restoration, former samurai of the Shonai domain used the area for sericulture and it has been designated a national historic site.

On September 12th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko gave a solatium to Hokkaido and Iwatre Prefectures for damages caused by Typhoon no. 10. Nomura Zenshi* of the IHA delivered the payment to each prefecture's Tokyo office.

* Google translates Nomura Zenshi's title as "Deputy Director" in the Mainichi article whereas his title is "Secretary Deputy Director-General" in the Sankei translation.

ETA: The Imperial couple started their visit to Iwate Prefecture on the 28th. Besides attending the 71st National Sports Festival, they will inspect the reconstruction progress from the Great East Japan Earthquake. They will return to Tokyo on October 2nd.

ETA2: The Imperial couple are staying at a Yukari hotel reopened after the earthquake+tsunami disaster as "Sanrikuhana hotel Nippon chrysanthemum". They met with people from their visit to Otsuchi 19 years ago. The governor gave the couple a progress report of the reconstruction situation, agricultural damage, and victims of typhoon No. 10.

On September 29th, the Imperial couple visited a fish market and town hall in Otsuchi and a "town contact center" in Yamada. The market had been destroyed in the 2011 tsunami and earthquake but resumed partial operations that November. They also learned about freshwater fish "three-spined stickleback". In Yamada, junior and high school students spoke about the children's book corner at the town's contact center.